If you fancy getting into the festival spirit and painting the town, well, green this St. Patrick’s Day, then we’ve got just the ticket. We’ve got the low down on the best destinations to visit if you want to celebrate the Irish holiday in style, and you’ll find everything from neon-green rivers to Guinness-fuelled parades. 

DUBLIN

We couldn’t provide a round up of the most popular Paddy’s Day party towns without placing Dublin at the top of the list. Each year the capital’s cobbled streets are abuzz with activity, thanks to its colourful parades, overflowing pubs and treasure hunts that take place throughout the city. Traditional Irish music spills onto the maze-like streets of tourist hot-spot Temple Bar; check out the bustling pubs and bars including Gogarty’s Pub, Porterhouse and Temple Bar itself. The Guinness Storehouse and Old Jameson Distillery are great if you want to toast the festivities and learn about the city’s history too.

Fancy flying over for the day? Dublin is one of our top European day trip destinations for when you're seeking a speedy city break!

LONDON

Image: apple-apartments.com

Even if you’re not downing pints and Irish dancing in Dublin, you can’t get much better than London - home to Great Britain's biggest Irish population. Watch the fabulous floats and marching bands as they pass through Picadilly Circus and iconic landmarks such as The Ritz during the traditional parade, before heading to Trafalgar Square for Irish street food, standup comedy, superb shows and much more. In the evening, head over to Archer Street's classy cocktail bar in Soho for a menu brimming with Champagne and Guinness bevvies and the chance to have a bit of a boogie.

Or if you fancy stepping up the style-factor, put down your Guinness and pick up a good ol' fashioned Irish Whiskey with a St Paddy's Day Cocktail Masterclass on Saturday 18th March at Corrigan's Mayfair, for £55pp. 

NEW YORK

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New York knows how to celebrate St Paddy's Day and hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world! What better way to celebrate than with a spectacular 6-hour parade through the city’s iconic streets, landmarks and parks. Starting at 11am at 44^th Street and marching past St. Patrick’s Cathedral all the way through to 79^th Street, it’ll be pretty hard to miss this popular Parade which features floats, Irish dancers, live music and everything in-between. If you prefer a more sophisticated celebration, hop on a day cruise along the Hudson with Coney Island Brewery from roughly $50 and you can sip on beer, scoff Irish snacks and shake your hips to on-board DJs while soaking up views of the city. 

CHICAGO

When it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, Chicago is a city that takes “going green” to the next level. Every year, thousands of merrymakers flock to the Chicago Loop to witness the River as it’s turned green and watch the downtown parade as it dances with floats and flags through Grant Park. If you want to continue the party, you’ll find Irish pubs and bars popping up all over the city (Paddy’s day or not) so you’re never too far from a pint of Guinness or Whiskey chaser. Chief O’Neill’s Pub, The Irish Oak and The Grafton are some of the best for live music, hearty stews and friendly bar staff.

DUBAI

Image: The Irish Village

On Friday 17^th March, one of the world’s most glamorous cities will swap chic for shamrocks, with plenty of entertainment on the cards in preparation of St. Patrick’s Day. The Dubai Media City Amphitheatre is the place to be, with a craicing line up of music acts performing for the Ultimate Paddy’s Day Party from 1pm onwards. Similarly, The Irish Village (naturally) is a hot spot if you’re here to celebrate, with live music bands, DJs and Irish tunes filling the square over the weekend – Saturday is family day so you can let the kids run wild with plenty of fun activities to get stuck into. Dubai holidays just got a whole lot more fun.  

Planning at trip to the sun? Our handy guide on how to see Dubai in 3 days is perfect for when you're all paddied out!

MONTSERRAT

You may be wondering why this Caribbean gem is on our list as one of the best destinations to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, right? Well, recognized as the other Emerald Isle, Montserrat is the only country outside of Ireland that acknowledges St. Patrick’s Day as a public holiday with an Irish heritage that dates way back to the 17^th Century. This gorgeous island plays tribute to its rich mix of African and Irish heritage with a week-long festival full of classic Caribbean entertainment – what better excuse to book a beach holiday in the Caribbean?!